Somewhere in the mid 70’s, Adi Da Samraj gathered with a group of people late into one night. At some point, he asked the women to leave the room and continued with the men.

Advocating for full adult responsibility, he gave the men five simple rules.

Five Rules for Men

Don’t bother non-humans

Don’t bother children

Don’t bother women

Don’t bother yourself and other men

Don’t bother “God”

Applying this to all of humanity – men, women, everyone – the following is offered.

Seven Recommendations for Humankind

Don’t bother non-humans

Don’t bother children

Don’t bother women or men

Don’t bother yourself

Don’t bother elders

Don’t bother “God”

Remind each other of these things, always

Dictionary for “bother”

Meaning: to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing; pester – to make (a person) alarmed or confused

Synonyms: harass, vex, irritate; molest, disturb. Bother, annoy, plague, tease imply persistent interference with one’s comfort or peace of mind. Bother suggests causing trouble or weariness or repeatedly interrupting in the midst of pressing duties. To annoy is to vex or irritate by bothering. Plague is a strong word, connoting unremitting annoyance and harassment. To tease is to pester, as by long-continued whining and begging.